Coin collecting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A coin hopper having increased capacity and a reduced number of parts utilizes a single-piece coin trap supported by rollers or linkages on a rotatable selector vane and journals on the trap. The selector vane is connected to a relay and rotates in an appropriate direction determined by the collect or refund signal applied to the relay. The rotation of the selector vane locks appropriate ones of the journals in position causing the trap to rotate thereabout under the coin load and dump the coins into the appropriate collect or refund channel.

United States Patent 1191 Breitung et al.

[451 May 14, 1974 COIN COLLECTING APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Glen A. Breitung; Harold Jacob Hershey, both of Indianapolis, Ind. [73] Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories,

Incorporated, Murray Hill, NJ.

[22] Filed; Nov. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 310,270

[52] U.S. Cl 232/57.5, 232/55, 232/57,

232/65 [51] Int. Cl. B65g-ll /04 [58] Field of Search 232/55, 57, 57.5, 58,64, 232/65 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,337,125 8/1967 Nielsen 232/57.5 2,006,433 7/1935 Bierstedt et al 232/57.5 2,951,635 9/1960 Boysen, Jr. et al., 232/57.5 2,782,984 2/1957 Hoban 232/57.5 2,022,971 12/1935 Mills 232/57.5

1,984,536 12/1934 Melick 232/57.5 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 620,677 8/1932 Germany 232/57.5

20,278 12/1890 Great Britain 232/66 Primary E.raminerBobby R. Gay -Assistant ExaminerPeter A. Aschenbrenner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-A. D. Hooper; E. .l. Olinder [57] ABSTRACT A coin hopper having increased capacity and a reduced number of parts utilizes a single-piece coin trap supported by rollers or linkages on a rotatable selector vane and journals on the trap. The selector vane is connected to a relay and rotates in an appropriate direction determined by the collect or refund signal applied to the relay. The rotation of the selector vane locks appropriate ones of the journals in position causing the trap to rotate thereabout under the coin load and dump the coins into the appropriate collect or refund channel.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures iAllNllUlM 14 IBM SHEET 201' 4 FIG. 2

minnow 141914 3.810.575

sum u or 4 FIG. 6

COIN COLLECTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to coin collection apparatus and more particularly to a coin hopper for a coin telephone having an increased coin capacity and an improved efficiency of operation.

2. Description of the Prior Art Coin telephones and similar coin collecting apparatus normally include a temporary storage chamber high operating forces which may not be available from existing operating apparatus such as the commonly used coin relays.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to improve the coin capacity and operating efficiency of coin hoppers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing object and others are achieved in accordance with the invention by a coin hopper which utilizes the coin trap to both support the coins within the hopper and to direct the coins into the appropriate collect or refund chute. The coin trap comprises a substantially rectangular plate having flanges along two parallel edges and having journals at the four corners thereof. The coin trap is supported by two rollers or two linkages on a pivoted selector vane which can be rotated by the operating relay in response to a collect or refund signal from the central office. The selector vane moves the support rollers or rotates the linkages toward an edge of the trap and subsequently locks the journals at this edge in position causing the trap to rotatethereabout under the weight of the stored coins and discharge the coins into the appropriate chute. Because of the dual function of the coin trap, the trap can be placed very.low in the coin hopper thereby increasing storage capacity. All movements within the hopper are rotational movements about symmetrical pivots which reduce the forces required for operation of the coin hopper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be more fully comprehended from the following detailed description'and accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially broken away of a coin hopper in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a coin trap and selector vane utilizing rollers for use in the hopper of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the coin trap of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the selector vane of FIG. 2;

\ FIG. 5 is an end view showing the trap and vane of FIG. 2 in a coin discharge position;

FIG. 6 .is a perspective view of a selector vane utilizing linkages; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view ofa coin trap for use with the selector vane of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 discloses a coin hopper 101 in which deposited coins 10 from a deposit slot (not shown) enter hopper 101 through an opening I l. The coins trip a trigger (not shown) which advantageously can be inserted into hopper 101 through opening 12 and which initiates the sequence establishing the circuit path for subsequent transmittal of the collect or refund signals from the central office. The coins enter coin storage chamber 13 for temporary storage. A coin trap or support forms the bottom or floor of chamber 13.

As shown more fully in one embodiment in FIGS. 2 and 3, coin trap 20 comprises a generally rectangular floor or support surface 26 having two slightly upturned parallel edges 21 and having two upstanding flanges or sides 22 along the other two parallel edges thereof. Mounted within the flanges 22 and extending outwardly therefrornat substantially the four corners of trap 20 are four pins or journals 23. Journals 23 extend into respective arcuate slots or grooves 9 in the side of hopper 10 1. A groove or cam profile 24 is formed within the outer faces 25 of flanges 22 and extend across a substantial portion of the length thereof. In the illustrative embodiment the cam profile 24 is approximately semi-elliptical but can have other configurations also.

Coin trap 20 is normally supported in a substantially horizontal position by two rollers 32 rotatably mounted on a selector vane which is pivotably mounted at its lower end in hopper 101 by pins 40 protruding therefrom through openings 14 in hopper 101. As shown more clearly in FIG. 4, vane 30 includes two upstanding ends or flanges 34 and 35 joined by a center member 36 rigidly connecting the inner faces 44 and 45 thereof. Flanges 34 and 35 have arcuate upper edges 38. The previously mentioned mounting pins 40 are formed on the lower part of the exterior faces 42 and 43 of flanges 34 and 35, respectively. On the interior forces 44 and 45 of flanges 34 and 35, respectively,

near arcuate edges 38 are formed other pins or shafts 46 upon which rollers 32 are rotatably mounted. On the exterior face 42 of flange 34 is also formed an extending tab 48 which extends through an arcuate slot or opening 15 in one face of hopper 101. Tab 48 is adapted for operation by the armature of a coin relay, through appropriate intermediate mechanisms known in the art, so that vane 30 can be made to rotate in one direction when a collect signal is given to the relay and t in the opposite direction when a refund signal is given.

Rollers 32 on vane 30 are adapted to fit within grooves or cam profiles 24 in flanges 22 and move or roll therein whenever vane 30 rotates as discussed above. Rollers 32 normally contact the relatively straight center portion 27 of the upper edge of grooves 24. In this position trap 20 is supported at its highest point with journals 23 being wedged against the top of grooves 9 to provide a stable support for the stored coins.

In response to a collect or refund signal, vane 30 rotates causing rollers 32 to move from center portions 27 of grooves 24 into arcuate portions 28 thereof as shown in FIG. 5. As rollers 32 move into the respective arcuate portions 28, the upper arcuate edges 38 of flanges 34 and 35 also move underneath the pair of journals 23 toward which vane 30 is rotating and keeps this pair of journals 23 wedged or positioned at the top of the respective grooves 9. Trap begins to rotate under the weight of the supported coins about the pair of wedged journals 23 since the free or unwedged journals 23 are now free to move along or drop within their respective grooves 9. The rotation of trap 20 continues until the bottom of floor 26 contacts the surface of either the refund or collect chutes 18 and 19, respectively. Alternatively, the free or unwedged journals 23 can be made to bottom against flanges 34 and 35 or against the lower end of their respective grooves 9 when trap 20 has rotated the desired amount. The profile of grooves or cam profiles 24 is selected so that the movement of rollers 32 therealong produces a rotation of trap 20 which discharges the coins supported thereby in a metered flow into the appropriate chute so as to prevent jamming of the coins within the chutes. When all coins have been discharged from trap 20 into the appropriate chute, vane is returned to its full up-- right position thereby causing rollers 32 to return to center portions 27 of grooves 24 and support trap 20 in its normal horizontal position.

In a second embodiment the coin trap is supported by linkages 61 on a selector vane 60 as illustrated in FIG. 6. Linkages 61 are rotatabiy mounted on one end to the inner surfaces of flanges 62 and 63 in a manner similar to rollers 32. At the other end linkages 61 have an opening or hole 64. in other respects vane 60 is substantially identical to vane 30.

As shown in FIG. 7 the coin trap 70 for use with vane 60 can be substantially identical to trap 20 except for the addition of a stud 71 within the grooves 72 in the outer faces 73 of the trap sides 74. Studs 71 are mounted within the holes 64 on linkages 61 and thereby support trap 70. Linkages 61 can rotate with respect to studs 71.

The functioning of vane 60 and trap 70 is similar to the functioning of trap 20 and vane 30 previously described. Trap 70 is normally supported in a horizontal position when linkages 61 are oriented vertically. When vane 60 rotates in response to a collect or refund signal, linkages 61 rotate toward a horizontal orientation. The upper edges 68 of flanges 62 and 63 move under respective journals 75 and allow trap 70 to rotate thereabout to discharge the coins into the appropriate chute as previously described.

Essentially the only moving parts in hopper 101 are trap 20 or 70 and vane 30 or 60. The movement of these parts is rotational movement around symmetrical pivots providing force balances. Accordingly, the operation of hopper 101 is very efficient with only small forces required for such operation.

The dual function of trap 20 or 70 as both a coin support and coin director or diverter, allows trap 20 to be placed relatively low in hopper 101 thereby substantially increasing the coin capacity of the hopperv This dual function also decreases the required number of parts thereby reducing the relative'cost of hopper 101.

and other applications thereof might be made by those 7 4 skilled in the art without departing from its spirit and scope. i

What is claimed is:

1. A coin hopper for a coin telephone and like coincollecting apparatus including a coin storage chamber, a coin trap for holding coins in said chamber and a pivoted vane for supporting said-trap in a substantially horizontal support position when said vane is in its normal position. said trap being responsive to the rotation of said vane from said normal position to assume an inclined position and direct said coins into a selected one of a plurality of channels, characterized in that:

said trap includes a floor and journals extending outwardly in opposite directions from said trap;

said hopper includes generally vertically oriented slots in opposing wall portions thereof adapted for receiving respective ones of said journals therein; and

said vane comprises two upstanding flanges having arcuate upper edges adapted for movement under respective ones of said journals in response to said rotation in a respective direction from said normal position to lock said respective ones of said journals in position within Said respective slots to prevent linear movement thereof and provide a pivot for said trap, the remainder of said journals being freely moveable within said respective slots whereby said trap rotates about said pivot causing said trap to assume said inclined position and direct said coins into a respective one of said channels, and pair of rollers mounted on opposing faces of said flanges for contacting said trap and supporting it in said support position when said vane is in said normal position.

2. A coin hopper for a coin telephone and like coincollecting apparatus including a coin storage chamber, a coin trap for holding coins in said chamber and a pivoted vane for supporting said trap in a substantially horizontal support position when said vane is in its normal position, said trap being responsive to the rotation of said vane from said normal position to assume an inclined position and direct said coins into a selected one of a plurality of channels, characterized in that:

said trap comprises a generally rectangular floor having upstanding sides along two parallel edges thereof, and four journals mounted in said sides at substantially the four corners of said trap and extending outwardly in opposite directions therefrom, said sides each have a groove formed in the exterior face thereof;

said hopper includes opposing walls each having generally vertically oriented arcuate slots therein for receiving said journals in a respective one of said slots; and

said vane comprises two upstanding opposing flanges having arcuate upper edges adapted to move under respective ones of said journals in response to said rotation in a respective direction from said normal position to lock said respective ones of said journals in position within said respective slots to prevent linear movement thereof and provide a pivot for said trap, the remainder of said journals being freely moveable within said respective slots whereby said trap rotates about said pivot causing said trap to assume said inclined position and direct said coins into a respective one of said channels, and

a pair of rollers mounted on the opposing faces of said flanges and adapted to fit within respective ones of said grooves in said sides of said trap for thereby supporting said trap in said support position when said vane is in said normal position.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said grooves comprise substantially semi-elliptical grooves extending a substantial portion of the length of said sides, said grooves including a relatively straight center portion joining two relatively arcuate end portions, said rollers being adapted to contact said center portions when said trap is in said support position and said end portions when said trap is in said inclined position.

4. A coin hopper for a coin telephone and like coincollecting apparatus including a coin storage chamber, a coin trap for holding coins in said chamber and a pivoted vane for supporting said trap in a substantially horizontal support position when said vane is in its normal position, said trap being responsive to the rotation of said vane from said normal position to assume an inclined position and direct said coins into a selected one of a plurality of channels, characterized in that:

said trap includes a floor and journals extending outwardly in opposite directions from said trap;

said hopper includes generally vertically oriented slots in opposing wall portions thereof adapted for receiving respective ones of said journals therein; and

said vane comprises two upstanding opposing flanges having arcuate upper edges adapted for movement under respective ones of said journals in response to said rotation in a respective direction from said normal position to lock said respective ones of said journals in position within said respective slots to thereby prevent linear movement thereof and provide a pivot for said trap, the remainder of said journals being freely moveable within said respective slots whereby said trap rotates about said pivot causing said trap to assume said inclined position and direct said coins into a respective one of said channels, and

a pair of linkages rotatably mounted on opposing faces of said flanges, said linkages being connected to said trap for supporting it in .said support position when said vane is in said normal position.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said trap has upstanding sides along two parallel edges thereof, said journals comprise four journals mounted in said sides at substantially the four corners of said trap, said sides each have a groove in the exterior face thereof and a stud mounted in said grooves upon which said linkages are mounted for supporting said trap. 

1. A coin hopper for a coin telephone and like coin-collecting apparatus including a coin storage chamber, a coin trap for holding coins in said chamber and a pivoted vane for supporting said trap in a substantially horizontal support position when said vane is in its normal position, said trap being responsive to the rotation of said vane from said normal position to assume an inclined position and direct said coins into a selected one of a plurality of channels, characterized in that: said trap includes a floor and journals extending outwardly in opposite directions from said trap; said hopper includes generally vertically oriented slots in opposing wall portions thereof adapted for receiving respective ones of said journals therein; and said vane comprises two upstanding flanges having arcuate upper edges adapted for movement under respective ones of said journals in response to said rotation In a respective direction from said normal position to lock said respective ones of said journals in position within said respective slots to prevent linear movement thereof and provide a pivot for said trap, the remainder of said journals being freely moveable within said respective slots whereby said trap rotates about said pivot causing said trap to assume said inclined position and direct said coins into a respective one of said channels, and a pair of rollers mounted on opposing faces of said flanges for contacting said trap and supporting it in said support position when said vane is in said normal position.
 2. A coin hopper for a coin telephone and like coin-collecting apparatus including a coin storage chamber, a coin trap for holding coins in said chamber and a pivoted vane for supporting said trap in a substantially horizontal support position when said vane is in its normal position, said trap being responsive to the rotation of said vane from said normal position to assume an inclined position and direct said coins into a selected one of a plurality of channels, characterized in that: said trap comprises a generally rectangular floor having upstanding sides along two parallel edges thereof, and four journals mounted in said sides at substantially the four corners of said trap and extending outwardly in opposite directions therefrom, said sides each have a groove formed in the exterior face thereof; said hopper includes opposing walls each having generally vertically oriented arcuate slots therein for receiving said journals in a respective one of said slots; and said vane comprises two upstanding opposing flanges having arcuate upper edges adapted to move under respective ones of said journals in response to said rotation in a respective direction from said normal position to lock said respective ones of said journals in position within said respective slots to prevent linear movement thereof and provide a pivot for said trap, the remainder of said journals being freely moveable within said respective slots whereby said trap rotates about said pivot causing said trap to assume said inclined position and direct said coins into a respective one of said channels, and a pair of rollers mounted on the opposing faces of said flanges and adapted to fit within respective ones of said grooves in said sides of said trap for thereby supporting said trap in said support position when said vane is in said normal position.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said grooves comprise substantially semi-elliptical grooves extending a substantial portion of the length of said sides, said grooves including a relatively straight center portion joining two relatively arcuate end portions, said rollers being adapted to contact said center portions when said trap is in said support position and said end portions when said trap is in said inclined position.
 4. A coin hopper for a coin telephone and like coin-collecting apparatus including a coin storage chamber, a coin trap for holding coins in said chamber and a pivoted vane for supporting said trap in a substantially horizontal support position when said vane is in its normal position, said trap being responsive to the rotation of said vane from said normal position to assume an inclined position and direct said coins into a selected one of a plurality of channels, characterized in that: said trap includes a floor and journals extending outwardly in opposite directions from said trap; said hopper includes generally vertically oriented slots in opposing wall portions thereof adapted for receiving respective ones of said journals therein; and said vane comprises two upstanding opposing flanges having arcuate upper edges adapted for movement under respective ones of said journals in response to said rotation in a respective direction from said normal position to lock said respective ones of said journals in position within said respective slots to thereby prevent linear movement thereof and provide a pivot for said trap, the remainder of said journals being freely moveable within said respective slots whereby said trap rotates about said pivot causing said trap to assume said inclined position and direct said coins into a respective one of said channels, and a pair of linkages rotatably mounted on opposing faces of said flanges, said linkages being connected to said trap for supporting it in said support position when said vane is in said normal position.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said trap has upstanding sides along two parallel edges thereof, said journals comprise four journals mounted in said sides at substantially the four corners of said trap, said sides each have a groove in the exterior face thereof and a stud mounted in said grooves upon which said linkages are mounted for supporting said trap. 